Power Struggle in Tamil Nadu?
Since the demise of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram of ADMK, power struggle began. Sasikala, who is a close friend of Jayalalitha captured ADMK Secretary’s post by manipulating support of members of Tamil Nadu State Assembly. Step by step she took steps to capture the post of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. She supposed to have threatened Chief Minister O Panneerselvam to submit his resignation during a State Assembly committee meeting of the ADMK. Followed by his resignation, Panneerselvam went to the tomb of Jayalalitha and observed meditation for about 40 minutes. News of this spread like wild fire among the press. Within a short time most of the Tamil Nadu news agencies gathered at the tomb. Apart from news agencies people too gathered there. When he opened the eyes he broke the ice. He disclosed several secretes about Sasikala, which included the threat on him, refusal by Sasikala to see Jayalalitha while she was on death bed, and doubts about the death of Jayalalitha. He announced a commission will be appointed to investigate the death of Jayalalitha.
A day after caretaker Chief Minister O Panneerselvam revolted against her and claimed he had been forced to resign, AIADMK general secretary Sasikala rallied party MLAs and herded them into buses and taken them to hotels and farmhouses to keep them intact ahead of an anticipated majority test in the Tamil Nadu assembly.
Governor C Vidyasagar Rao is expected in Chennai Thursday, a development that made the Sasikala camp drop the idea of flying the MLAs to New Delhi and parade them at Rashtrapati Bhavan to demonstrate her strength.
Calling Panneerselvam a “liar” and his rebellion a “betrayal”, Sasikala claimed the support of 131 of the 134 AIADMK MLAs. She also hinted that arch rival DMK may have had a role in the revolt, claiming that its leader M K Stalin smiled with Panneerselvam.
All Out War In AIADMK, Sasikala Natarajan Hits Back At O Panneerselvam
AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP V Maitreyan, who aligned himself with Panneerselvam, told the press: “There is tremendous support for Panneerselvam from people across the state. None of these developments or keeping MLAs in custody are significant. What matters is the strength in the assembly when there is a head count.”
Former Speaker P H Pandian, who attacked Sasikala, also showed up at Panneerselvam’s residence in a show of solidarity.
Striking back, Sasikala denied Panneerselvam’s claim that the legislature party meeting held Sunday elected her as the leader was a secret affair. “The meeting was not a secret, it was reported in the media. No one will believe his claim that he did not know about the meeting,” she said.
On Tuesday night, Panneerselvam had alleged that he learnt of the meeting only at the last minute, after Sasikala had collected signatures of MLAs to make her the legislature party leader and Chief Minister.
With the return of the Governor from Mumbai on Thursday evening (09) poer struggle in Tamil Nadu is expected to end.
In the meantime, Indian press indicated Disproportionate assets accumulation case verdict will be delivered on Friday (10). Sasikala is one of the co accused in this case. If she is found guilty, she has to go to jail and the power struggle will automatically be resolved.
